Report says Iowa job outlook so-so

The outlook for job prospects in Iowa for the first quarter of 2007 is only so-so, according to new projections being released by an employment agency. Manpower Incorporated surveyed employers across Iowa and found 17-percent plan to hire on new staff between January and March, 12-percent plan cuts, 67-percent will stay the same and four-percent didn’t know.

Lynch says Ottumwa posted the worst numbers in Iowa with 23-percent of employers expecting cuts in the quarter ahead and only 10-percent planning to hire. He says the survey is also broken down by industry.

Lynch says those planning to increase staff are in sectors including: transportation, public utilities and services, while those planning to cut staffs are in industries like: construction, along with wholesale and retail trades. More information is available at “www.manpower.com”.